Ovie's time

Before the Stanley Cup playoffs, though, Ovechkin - one of the greatest scorers in NHL history, there is no argument - will be feted for scoring his 500th career goal. He needs seven heading into Wednesday night, which means, barring injury, the historic mark will come in January.

When it does, take a moment to reflect on what's been a remarkable 11-year career. Ovechkin has 493 goals - and 926 points - in 794 games. In an era dominated by goaltenders, No. 8 has scored 50 or more six times, including a stupendous 65-goal 2007-08.

Making the march to 500 that much more enjoyable is the fact the Capitals have never looked better. This is a Stanley Cup-caliber team, ranking third in goals per game (3.1), first in goals against (2.1), second on the power play (25 percent), and fourth on the penalty kill (85 percent). There are no holes up front, rocks on defense, and a soon-to-be Vezina Trophy winner in Braden Holtby in goal.

Ovechkin's never played more than 14 games in a postseason. That's going to change this spring. There's a very good chance 2016 is the year of Ovechkin and the Capitals.

And if he does lift the Cup, what do you know, he'll have done it as many times as Sidney Crosby.

An end to the Stamkos saga

Steven Stamkos' future dominated hockey headlines this past year, and little appears set to change in 2016. The saga will continue, and the hockey world will be watching, and waiting, until it ends - one way or another.

Rare does such a talent at Stamkos' age - he'll be 26 on Feb. 7 - hit unrestricted free agency. That, along with the Tampa Bay Lightning forward's Twitter fingers, and the prospect of the Ontario-born superstar going home to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, makes it impossible to turn away.

The Lightning, a season after playing in the Stanley Cup Final, are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Without a resolution, his contractual situation - distraction? - will only loom larger over Tampa Bay as the winter turns into spring.

There's a good chance Stamkos is wearing blue and white next season. But for who? Remember: Mike Babcock wasn't leaving Detroit, either.

The Penguins are going to be a team to watch in 2016 - whether they're good or bad. They fired the coach. The players are next. Which ones is the question.

Jagr's sunset

The Florida Panthers - with Jaromir Jagr their leading scorer - are the best story in the NHL as the calendar turns from December to January. And it's in hockey's best interest for the story to continue.

Florida's plus-17 goal differential is third in the East, and tied for fourth in the league. They're for real. And the 43-year-old Jagr - he'll be 44 (!) on Feb. 15 - is not the only one doing the heavy lifting. In fact, the Panthers are a wondrous mix of young and old.

Player

Age

Points

Jaromir Jagr

43

26

Jonathan Huberdeau

22

25

Jussi Jokinen

32

23

Aleksander Barkov

20

23

Vincent Trocheck

22

22

Reilly Smith

24

20

Aaron Ekblad

19

18

And Roberto Luongo, an old man in his own right, is doing his part, too.

Goaltender

Age

GP

SV %

Roberto Luongo

36

30

.926

Al Montoya

30

8

.930

Luongo will be 37 in April. Jagr's exploits, naturally, are overshadowing what is another remarkable season for the veteran in the crease.

There's something very good and very entertaining happening in Florida. The Panthers, anchored by veterans Jagr and Luongo, are in fact a young team on the rise. And Jagr's headed for the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Who wouldn't want to watch that?

The Digest

Year in Review: The NHL in 2015

theScore Staff
December 31, 2015 6:39pm

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

We look back at the best of the past 365 days in the National Hockey League.